St. Petersburg metro explosion suspect may be Kyrgyz

Kyrgyzstan’s special services have identified suspect in St. Petersburg bomb explosion that killed 14 people and injured dozens

Kyrgyzstan’s National Security Committee maintains contacts with the Russian special services investigating the terrorist attack in the St. Petersburg subway, the committee’s spokesman, Rakhat Sulaimanov, Joinfo.com reports with reference to TASS news agency.

“It has been established that an individual suspected of carrying out a terrorist attack is a native of our republic,” he said. According to Sulaimanov, it is also known that he was granted Russian citizenship some time ago.

According to the press service, the committee confirms that Akbarzhon Jalilov born in 1995 is indeed a native of Kyrgyzstan.

“However, we do not know whether this person is involved in the terror attack or not,” the press service noted. It added that the committee had received information concerning Jalilov’s alleged involvement “from the Russian side.”

Sulaimanov earlier said it is in touch with the relevant agencies in Russia investigating the terrorist attack in St. Petersburg.

The death toll has reached 14, Russian Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova said on Tuesday.

“Today, we can verify the death of 14 people: eleven at the scene and three others died in an agonizing condition, one of them at the stage of transportation in the ambulance and two others – at a reception area of Mariinsky Hospital of injuries incompatible with life,” she told reporters in St. Petersburg.

According to the minister, 49 people remain in hospitals now. “Thirteen have been released [from hospitals]. All patients are examined by the best specialists every day and are provided with medicine and blood,” Skvortsova added.